Click on one of the links below
to read more about the major towns and resorts
Los Cristianos
La Oratava
Playa de las Americas
Puerto de la Cruz
Santa Cruz
and here's a little info on some of the other towns and smaller resorts around Tenerife. Also, if you have any recommendations, perhaps a restaurant or museum you know of you think should be be mentioned, let me know?
Icod
Located on the north coast, Icod is famous for two reasons, it's the island's most respected wine-growing region (it's full name is Icod de los Vinos) and also it has a big, old tree! The tree is a "Dragon Tree" and scientists and locals together have been unable to put an accurate age to the tree, guestimates range from 365 years to over a thousand years. The tree is housed in a small park and you can catch a mini-train that takes you on a quick tour of the town and then to the park, all for about €3 including entrance fee. Close to the park is a butterfly house also worth visiting - The Mariposario del Drago is a tropical garden where hundreds of butterflies belonging to exotic species from all parts of the world fly in total freedom. Entrance is around €5.
The town itself is one of the more typical and older towns of the island, unspoiled by tourism and home to some nice, Canarian restaurants, impressive buildings, bodegas of course and a nice place to shop too! Playa San Marcos is one of the most picturesque beaches on the island, another attractive black sand beach on the coast by Icod de los Vinos.
Las Galletas
A little past the town of las Galletas is the resort of Costa del Silencio. It's a short walk back to the town and well worth it to get a taste of local atmosphere that hasn't been spoilt by tourism yet, although it is well catered for here. The black sand/stone beach is a bit uncomfortable so grab a sunbed somewhere near the small promenade then it's just a 1 minute walk to all the bars and restaurants there. Las Galletas is a fishing village so try the local catch if dining out. Together with Costa del Silencio, Las Galletas offers a good choice of self catering accommodation as well as hotels, the two golf courses Golf del Sur and Amarilla Golf are nearby and it's a 10 minute drive down the TF1 into los Cristianos and then Playa de las Americas. If you want to enjoy the sun of the south but avoid tacky tourism then Las Galletas is a nice alternative.
Los Realejos
Los Realejos (pop. 32,588) lies beneath the slopes of the Las Cañadas del Teide mountain range. The town is mainly agricultural surrounded by great banana plantations. It also lies on the edge of Puerto de la Cruz so there's a great choice of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops to make it a worthwhile place to visit and/or stay. Worth visiting in Los Realejos is La Concepción Church with it's impressive Baroque Altar and a jasper sculptured Baptismal font, there's the oldest church on the island - the Santiago Parish - constructed in 1498. Los Realejos' beach is a beautiful black-sand beach - El Socorro.
La Laguna
La Laguna (pop. 128,000) is Tenerife's Province second most important city and once the capital of the Island .It is also home to the San Fernando University and the province's Bishopric. The city is also home to many architectural monuments, palaces and traditional houses of the XVII and XVIII centuries. Well worth hunting out are the Cathedral and its museum (dating back to 1515), the Santo Domingo and the Concepción Church and its museum, the Church of the Holy Christ and the San Miguel Chapel. Have a look round the Casa Ossuna Museum as well.
Los Gigantes
The town of Los Gigantes is named after, and lies at the foot of, the imposing cliffs of the same name. Just beyond the cliffs are the spectacular Teno mountains, which cover the entire north-western corner of Tenerife. South of Los Gigantes is the old fishing village of Puerto Santiago, which still retains a local and slower atmosphere. Further south is the rapidly growing resort of Playa de la Arena.
With the exception of one multistory hotel, all of the resort's apartment complexes and residential areas are low-rise and blend in well with the surroundings. It is a small, tranquil place and has an air of exclusivity about it. Bordered by the rocky cliffs there's little chance of the town expanding into another booming tourist resort. It's also built into steep hills so not easy to get round for the elderly or people with walking difficulties (or just don't like climbing steep hills). It's also not the best of places to drive around with a car and takes ages to find a parking space.
The town has a small, clean, black sand beach which is rarely crowded and suitable for children. Next to the beach is the marina, where you will find an impressive choice of private boats and yachts to wish you had. There's also boats which take visitors out to see the dolphins and whales. There's a choice of bars and restaurants by the marina. The shopping centre is uphill from the marina (everything's uphill from the marina!). Although small, there's more bars and restaurants to choose from there plus shopping for everything from food to designer label clothes.
Playa de la Arena
Not far from Los Gigantes so still on the west coast, Playa de la Arena is quite a modern though smaller resort. It also has perhaps one of the finest beaches in this region and unlike many others, it's a natural black-sand beach and not shipped in from the Sahara. It's also another of the more suitable beaches for children thanks to the gently sloping level and calm waters here. No swimming when there's a red flag though. The beach is situated centrally along the main coastal thoroughfare, the Avenida Maritima, which has relatively easy (and free) parking facilities. There's a huge choice of restaurants, bars and shops adjacent to and opposite the beach. The "Avenida Maritima" is the main road which runs through the resort and parallel to the sea front and promenade. As with most of the resorts in Tenerife, you'll find construction still taking place. There's also a tourist office in the resort - telephone number + 34 22 860348.
